"Let us hope so, anyhow," said Fanny. Then she added, "Don't suppose I am grumbling, although it has been a trial father going away--so very far away--to India. But I think the real temptation comes to us in this way: when we have to meet girls we can't tolerate." "Now she's going to say something dreadful!" thought Olive to herself. Margaret rose as though she would put an end to the colloquy. Fanny was watching Margaret's face. "The girl I am specially thinking of now," she said, "is Sibyl Ray." "Oh!" said Margaret. She gave a sigh of such undoubted relief that Fanny was certain she had guessed what her first thoughts were. "And now I will tell you why I don't like Sibyl," Fanny continued. "I have nothing whatever to say against her. I have never heard of her doing anything underhand or what we might call low-down or ill-bred. At the same time, I do dislike Sibyl, just for the simple reason that she is _not_ well-bred, and she never will be." "Oh! oh, give her her chance--do!" said Olive. "I am not going to interfere with her," remarked Fanny; "but she can never be a friend of mine. There are some girls who like her very well. There's Martha West, who is constantly with her." "I am quite sure," said Margaret, "that there isn't a better girl in the school than Martha, and I have serious thoughts of asking her to become a Speciality." As she spoke she fixed her very dark eyes on Fanny's face. "Do ask her; I shall be delighted," remarked Fanny. "Only, whatever you do, don't ask her friend, Sibyl Ray." "I have no present intention of doing so. Fanny, I don't want to be nasty; but you are quite right about Sibyl. No one can say a word against her; and yet she just is not well-bred." CHAPTER VIII A NEW MEMBER The picnic was a great success. The day was splendid. The sun shone in a sky which was almost cloudless. The motor-cars were all in prime condition. There were no accidents of any sort. The girls laughed and chatted, and enjoyed life to the utmost; and the Vivian girls were amongst the merriest in those large and varied groups. The twins invariably followed in Betty's footsteps, and Betty possessed that curious mixture of temperament which threw her into the depths of anguish one moment and sent her spirits flying like a rocket skyward the next. Betty's spirits were tending skyward on this happy day. She was also making friends in the school, and was delighted to walk with Margaret and Susie and Olive. Fanny did not trouble her at all; but Martha West chatted with her for a whole long hour, and, as Martha knew Scotland, a very strong link was immediately established between the girls.